US Govt unveils new design for $100 note

Officials from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve Board and the United States Secret Service yesterday unveiled the new design for the $100 note. Complete with advanced technology to combat counterfeiting, the new design for the $100 note retains the traditional look of U.S. currency.

“As with previous U.S. currency redesigns, this note incorporates the best technology available to ensure we are staying ahead of counterfeiters”, said Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner.

When the new design $100 note is issued on February 10, 2011, the approximately 6.5 billion old design $100s already in circulation will remain legal tender, said the Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben S. Bernanke. U.S. currency users should know they will not have to trade in their old design notes when the new notes begin circulating. The redesigned $100 note includes two new advanced counterfeit-deterrent security features, in addition to effective security features from the previous design.

The features are easy for consumers and merchants to check when verifying authenticity.